Tag Archive: yoga

My family were out tonight, a long drive to a sports event. The net result was that I had an evening to myself and I planned to use it relaxing and eating a lovely meal while doing nothing more arduous than watching TV or possibly surfing the ‘net.

As soon as the house was quiet, I set to work making my beef casserole for one.

A piece of steak, a carrot, an onion, half a cauliflower, a couple of sliced sun dried tomatoes, tabasco sauce (because I’ve run out of chillies) a sachet of bouquet garni, chopped garlic and some thai basil, picked fresh. To which I added a carton of beef stock. I keep reading on other people’s blogs about their beautiful homemade stock and maybe I’ll make one sooner or later but for now…the carton.

In it all went, into my beloved red cast iron casserole dish and then into the oven.

While it’s cooking, just a quick catch up on the last couple of days. I’ve been feeling a bit low, which might be a hormonal thing, or might be connected with losing weight and not ‘eating my feelings’, a suggestion that’s been made on forums. It could be that I guess but it feels a bit sort of….nebulous to me and I like something I can wrap my mind around…

Either way, it’s been hard to stay on track when all I really wanted to do was hide under several duvets, under a bed, in a cave, in the darkest part of a forest. Somehow, the ‘Just keep moving’ mantra, coupled with some loving encouragement from my family (which I thought was very brave of them, considering), meant that I did indeed keep moving, if in a bit of a daze.

Yesterday was the worst of it, sitting at my desk, still and quiet, reading and ignoring the world. I walked finally, but only for 25 minutes and without any real pleasure. It was a ‘because I said I would’ sort of walk.

Today has been better but I was still feeling quiet, so instead of walking, I went to yoga for an hour and a half, which turns out to be the best thing I could possibly have done. I felt immeasurably better after it. In spite of myself, I also walked for 45 minutes. Tonight I felt a shift in mood and I’m pretty confident that tomorrow I’ll be back to normal again. I even feel excited at the thought of going for a ‘one foot in front of the other’ walk, moving my body for as long as it can handle it.

I’ve stuck to the food pretty well. I guess we’ll see tomorrow, on weigh-in day.

Okay, so after an hour, the smells from the oven were filling the kitchen, warming everything beautifully. I took the lid off, stirred and put it back in to reduce a bit, for 15 minutes. When it came out it was just gorgeous! I’d have taken a photo but it was too good to waste time recording it, I just wanted to taste it.

When the bowl was empty and I sat, replete, watching The Big Bang Theory, I suddenly wondered with a second of concern, how it was possible for it to have tasted so very fabulous? What was in the stock? How many calories was it? I’d have got up to look but I was so comfy and there was a shallow dish of green grapes at my elbow….In the middle of wondering, everyone burst through the door and there was a flurry of hellos and kisses and news, part of which was Zac telling me all about the awesome Hungry Jack’s meal they’d consumed on the way home. He described Whoppers and sundaes and fries and refillable drinks and in the midst of it, I had to laugh.

In the scheme of things, I think my beef casserole and grapes were just fine. 🙂

I wish I could accurately describe the feeling of peace I feel right now.

That was…beautiful…. The class started with gentle breathing, the teacher’s voice flowing, calm and restfully through the cool room as we relaxed on our mats. Everything was provided, so there was no preparation to be done. I just dressed comfortably in bike pants and a t-shirt.

Breathing meditation continued for about 15 minutes and then he gave an initial, fairly gentle pose to start with. After that, he moved around the room, giving us each individual poses, asking questions about where we felt the stretch, was there any pain, giving suggestions, tailoring the movements to each person’s needs. I felt relaxed, able, among friendly people.

From there, there were balancing poses, stretching poses and finally a last meditation.

At no time did I feel as though I was overdoing it, or even extending myself too far but I can feel my muscles acutely now. Not painfully but as though they’ve been used and challenged. I wasn’t really expecting that when it all felt so gentle.

I’ll definitely be going back. I really enjoyed it. In fact, I’m thinking now that I might have found the perfect combination for me, at this stage of my process. Walking, swimming, yoga. Two of each and a rest day per week. I’ll try it and see how I go.

If you haven’t done it before, or like me, haven’t done it for years and years, give it a go. It’s lovely! 🙂

Like this:

A short walk this morning, just to school and back because instead of a long walk today, I’m going to my first yoga class in more than 13 years! I’m hoping for relaxation, stretching, a sense of calm….